Max Scherzer takes the mound Tuesday as the Blue Jays open a homestand they can't afford to lose.
Toronto returns to Rogers Centre after going 8-5 across four straight AL East series, only to drop two of three to the Yankees in the Bronx over the weekend.
That series loss leaves the Blue Jays two games behind the Guardians for the third and final wild-card spot heading into the Royals series.
This is the first of two meetings between the two clubs, with Toronto set to visit Kansas City later in a future road trip.
Seattle follows the Royals into Rogers Centre this weekend, making this an especially loaded homestand for a team fighting for its playoff life.
John Schneider's group likely needs to win every series left, if not sweep some of them, to make October.
Scherzer gets the ball Tuesday against Seth Lugo, looking to bounce back from a rough outing against Tampa Bay on Aug. 19, when he allowed seven earned runs on five hits over four innings.
Why Wednesday's Bieber matchup matters just as much
Scherzer carries a 1-6 record and a 7.40 ERA into the series, numbers that need to turn around fast if Toronto is going to chase down three teams for that final spot.
Wednesday was suppose to go to Shane Bieber against Randy Dobnak, but the Blue Jays just announced a roster move involving Bieber which has placed him on IL with a right teres injury.
Over his last four starts, Bieber has a 2.96 ERA, allowing just three runs total in three of those outings across 18.2 innings against the Astros, Yankees, and Rays.
He's racked up 18 strikeouts combined in that stretch, exactly the form Toronto hoped for when it kept him at the deadline instead of trading him.
Thursday's game against Noah Cameron still has no announced starter for Toronto, which could point toward a bullpen game.
If that's the plan, Toronto likely won't name that option until after Wednesday's game wraps up.
Kansas City has nothing to play for in the standings, but spoiler duty doesn't require playoff stakes, just three good games in a row.
For the Blue Jays, every one of these games carries the weight of a race with three teams ahead of them and only 30 or so left to play.
Do the Blue Jays need to sweep the Royals this week to stay in the wild card race?
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